Hours

Student Research Projects

An initial test of vermicompost as a soil amendment

Abstract

Vermicomposting is the use of certain species of annelid worms to render organic waste (primarily vegetable scraps and high cellulosic material) into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. In this trial study, vermicompost from the Wesleyan Worm Farm was mixed in various proportions (5%, 10% and 25%) with local soil and tomato plants (Roma variety) were grown in five-gallon containers. The growth of the plants and the yield of fruit were compared with untreated soil. Each soil condition was tested in quadruplicate.

The average yield of fruit was greatest with 10% and 25% vermicompost, respectively, however there was so much variation between plants with the same treatment that the yields were not statistically different from untreated soil. Several factors confounded the implementation of this study, including: an extremely hot summer, the loss of several plants and ‘poaching’ of tomatoes from the study site.

AboutVirginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Wesleyan University is Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. Situated on a 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach, the University annually enrolls approximately 1,500 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work with 35 majors, 30 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. Graduate degrees include a Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Education (2018). Students thrive in average class sizes of 13 and through the University's experiential learning, high-impact leadership, and career-development programs. More than 90 percent of Wesleyan’s new graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within one year. The state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center, Chesapeake Bay Academy, Tidewater Collegiate Academy, and other outstanding facilities and programs serve a vibrant campus community and regional partners in education. In accordance with its United Methodist heritage, the University aspires to be a supportive community that is committed to social responsibility, ethical conduct, higher learning and religious freedom.